EU purchases high-speed patrol boats for Georgian Coast Guard
Equipped with modern surveillance, navigation and communication systems, the small vessels are intended for patrolling ports and territorial waters, and conducting search and rescue operations. Photo: Georgian Interior Ministry
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Four high-speed Defender patrol boats have been added to the fleet of the Georgian Coast Guard with the financial support of the European Union, the Interior Ministry announced on Thursday.
Equipped with modern surveillance, navigation and communication systems, the small vessels are intended for patrolling ports and territorial waters, and conducting search and rescue operations.
Speaking at the Coast Guard base in the Black Sea port city of Poti, Captain 1st Rank Ramaz Papidze, the Director of the Coast Guard Department, thanked the International Organisation for Migration, the EU Delegation in Georgia and the United Nations for their support.
Coordinated by the IOM, the purchase of the boats is part of its Accountability and Fight against Crime in Georgia programme, the Ministry said, adding the EU was continuing “active support” for the local integrated border management, including the development and modernisation of border management systems.
The Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, an immediate reaction force of the alliance, is in Georgia's territorial waters for drills with the Georgian Coast Guard service.
The US government has given Georgia two Island-class patrol boats on the 20th anniversary of the Georgian Coast Guard.Georgia named the boats Ochamchire and Dioskuria. Ochamchire is a town in Georgia’s currently occupied Abkhazia region, while Diosluria is the ancient name of Sokhumi in the same region.
The USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the United States Navy 6th Fleet and the Georgian Coast Guard have conducted a joint routine training.
Georgia's Coast Guard is being bolstered by the addition of two patrol boats gifted by the United States (US) government.
A total of 320 lifeguards and 50 patrol vessels equipped “in accordance with European standards” will patrol the Black Sea coast and the shores of rivers and lakes throughout Georgia this summer, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs on Saturday marked the annual Coast Guard Day by handing out awards to servicemembers for their “exceptional service”, while also celebrating the granting of partner status to the country by NATO for the alliance’s Sea Guardian maritime security operation.
Lifeguards working in Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi were on Saturday awarded for their bravery after saving holidaygoers and providing first aid to them throughout the past month while on duty on the coastline.
The Georgian Parliament has approved the engagement of the country’s Coast Guard professionals in NATO’s Sea Guardian maritime operation in the final plenary session of the lawmaking body on the topic.
Professionals of the Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Monday received awards for their service in an occasion marking the 25th anniversary of the body in western Georgia's port city of Poti.
The Emergency Situations Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has purchased four high-speed rescue boats to increase the effectiveness of rescue operations, the Ministry said on Tuesday.